Cultural Differences in Body Language
Do you know what I am doing? (thumbs up to the side – Hitch hiking). When I do this, most of you would think it means “good job”. But in the middle east, for example in Iran, it’s an insult similar to “the middle finger”.
Good evening Madam Toastmaster, fellow toastmasters and guests, tonight let’s look at body language in different cultures.
Do you agree that gestures can communicate as effectively as words? I agree. Some might argue, it maybe even more than words.
However we must be aware different culture has different body language. Therefore, in our personal and business lives, careful consideration must be given to whom we are with and where they are from.
A question that we might ask is; do we expect other cultures to adapt to our customs and protocol, or are we willing to make an extra effort to learn more about how they prefer to communicate?
It wouldn't be the first time that someone who wasn't familiar with the communication customs of another country, found themselves in a rather embarrassing situation.
Many years ago, President Richard Nixon arrived in a foreign country. Upon his arrival, he stood at the top of the stairs leading from his aircraft door, and overlooked the welcoming crowd gathered below him. He smiled and proudly raised both hands high in the air, palms facing outward and gave a gesture of his trademark famous "Peace" sign (as he had done many times before while travelling abroad).
However the crown immediately began to jeer and hiss at the President, and he found himself on the receiving end of a hostile and rude welcome. Could you imagine how he felt?
The reason was because in the country he was visiting, the two fingered, palms outward "Peace" sign, which was acceptable in North America, was an absolutely offensive gesture to the local people in that African country.
This would have been the equivalent of a president from another country visiting New Zealand, and with a smile, "flipped the bird" which in their country might
Good evening Madam Toastmaster, fellow toastmasters and guests, tonight let’s look at body language in different cultures.
Do you agree that gestures can communicate as effectively as words? I agree. Some might argue, it maybe even more than words.
However we must be aware different culture has different body language. Therefore, in our personal and business lives, careful consideration must be given to whom we are with and where they are from.
A question that we might ask is; do we expect other cultures to adapt to our customs and protocol, or are we willing to make an extra effort to learn more about how they prefer to communicate?
It wouldn't be the first time that someone who wasn't familiar with the communication customs of another country, found themselves in a rather embarrassing situation.
Many years ago, President Richard Nixon arrived in a foreign country. Upon his arrival, he stood at the top of the stairs leading from his aircraft door, and overlooked the welcoming crowd gathered below him. He smiled and proudly raised both hands high in the air, palms facing outward and gave a gesture of his trademark famous "Peace" sign (as he had done many times before while travelling abroad).
However the crown immediately began to jeer and hiss at the President, and he found himself on the receiving end of a hostile and rude welcome. Could you imagine how he felt?
The reason was because in the country he was visiting, the two fingered, palms outward "Peace" sign, which was acceptable in North America, was an absolutely offensive gesture to the local people in that African country.
This would have been the equivalent of a president from another country visiting New Zealand, and with a smile, "flipped the bird" which in their country might